Popular health-conscious soda alternative Poppi has been sued in a class-action lawsuit alleging the drinks aren't as healthy as advertised.
Touted as a gut-friendly, healthier alternative to traditional sodas, Poppi has gained an almost cult-like following for its prebiotic drinks infused with apple cider vinegar and inulin, a prebiotic powerhouse. while it contains no more than five grams of sugar and 25 calories.
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However, a lawsuit filed last week in a California court accuses the company of false advertising, claiming the cans contain only two grams of prebiotic fiber per serving.
The lawsuit claims that the average consumer would have to drink at least four cans of Poppi for 21 consecutive days to see the prebiotic benefit, which would be negated by the total amount of sugar found in the drink.
Poppi claims on its label that each can contains at least 2 grams of prebiotic fiber. According to data cited by He is very healthythe average consumer will need to eat more than 7.5 grams of prebiotic dietary fiber to achieve gut-friendly health benefits.
“Although the rise in popularity of Poppi can be attributed to its attractive flavors and clever marketing, the core of Poppi's success is mainly due to a special ingredient: agave inulin, the so-called “Prebiotic” of the products. states sue. But despite Poppi's 'prebiotic' marketing claims, which assure consumers, on the can, that they can 'be happy (and) be healthy', as one nutritionist bluntly explained: The products 'are basically water sugary'.
The lawsuit seeks $500,000 in damages and also claims that Poppi can lead to adverse health effects, such as liver damage, diarrhea and bloating.
“An inulin-based diet can lead to inflammation and even liver damage at doses as low as 10 to 30 grams per day over a 3-week period,” the lawsuit says, citing data from National Institutes of Health.
Poppi is defending against the lawsuit.
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“We are proud of the Poppi brand and stand behind our products,” said a Poppi spokesperson The entrepreneur in an email statement. “We're on a mission to revolutionize soda for the next generation of sodas, and we've diligently innovated to deliver a taste experience that millions of people have come to enjoy. We believe the lawsuit is without merit and we will defend strongly against these charges.”
Poppi quickly became a viral sensation after founders Allison and Stephen Ellsworth struck a deal on “Shark Tank” Season 10 with Rohan Oza, who offered the couple $400,000 for a 25% stake.